Device for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine, with improved rephasing of injection events

Abstract

A device (D) is dedicated to controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine (M) including at least two cylinders (Ci), each equipped with at least one inlet valve (SA) and at least one injector (IJ), and of the so-called indirect and sequential fuel injection type. This device (D) includes detection elements (MD) designed to detect an injection event phasing error relative to reference angular positions specific to the various cylinders (Ci), and control elements (MC) designed to rephase, if a phasing error of a cylinder (Ci) is detected, the command to open the injector (IJ) of this cylinder (Ci) after closure of the inlet valve (SA).

The invention claimed is 
     
       1. A device (D) for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine (M) comprising at least two cylinders (Ci) each equipped with at least one inlet valve (SA) and at least one injector (IJ), and of the so-called indirect and sequential fuel injection type, said device (D) comprising detection means (MD) arranged to detect injection event phasing errors relative to reference angular positions specific to the various cylinders (Ci), and control means (MC) arranged to rephase, if a phasing error or phasing errors is or are detected, the command to open the injector (IJ) of said cylinder (Ci) after closure of said inlet valve (SA), characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged to stop the opening of the injector (IJ) of another cylinder (Ci) when this opening occurs while the new reference angular position of said cylinder (Ci) is being set up. 
     
     
       2. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged, during an engine (M) start-up phase, to command the opening of each injector (IJ) once per engine cycle. 
     
     
       3. A unit (UC) for controlling an internal combustion engine (M), characterized in that it comprises a control device (D) as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       4. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged to generate a new reference angular position of a cylinder (Ci) every 720° after the setting-up of its new reference angular position and after rephasing of at least one of its injection events relative to the latter. 
     
     
       5. The device as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged, during an engine (M) start-up phase, to command the opening of each injector (IJ) once per engine cycle. 
     
     
       6. The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged to determine a new reference angular position for a cylinder (Ci) and set up this new reference angular position when the previous reference angular position of said cylinder (Ci) is passed by exactly 360°, said newly set-up reference angular position then defining the start of a new engine cycle and serving as a reference for phasing the command to open the injector (IJ) of the cylinder (Ci) in said new cycle. 
     
     
       7. The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged to generate a new reference angular position of a cylinder (Ci) every 720° after the setting-up of its new reference angular position and after rephasing of at least one of its injection events relative to the latter. 
     
     
       8. The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged, during an engine (M) start-up phase, to command the opening of each injector (IJ) once per engine cycle. 
     
     
       9. The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged to generate a new reference angular position of a cylinder (Ci) every 720° after the setting-up of its new reference angular position and after rephasing of at least one of its injection events relative to the latter. 
     
     
       10. The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged to set up a new reference angular position cylinder (Ci) after cylinder (Ci′). 
     
     
       11. The device as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that said control means (MC) are arranged, during an engine (M) start-up phase, to command the opening of each injector (IJ) once per engine cycle.